On Dec 16, 11:05*am, wrote:
Reading the latest Rules Committee meeting minutes I see item number 14 slips a "tax" in the rules. *$50 charge by waiver for any contest pilot showing up without a crew. *Note it is $50 PER DAY!

This was not included in the pilot poll, we currently have a sanctioning fee surplus, the minutes state that almost all of the 2012 contests reported a profit.

Is it productive to increase contest fees by $300 for participants? *Will this create more or less participation in regionals? *Is there really an unbearable burden placed on contest organizers when it comes to crewless pilots?

As an active contest pilot with a wife that participates 50% of the time I have found that my "friend pool" has done an effective job of retrieving for each other. *We make the required call to the retrieve office but in reality we arrange our own retrieves.

If you feel that the $300 "tax" is unwarranted please voice your opinion.

Lane
XF

Whoa there, let's not get too exited. Here is the minutes item

14. Permit organizers to charge increased entry for pilots that show
up without a crew.
Suggestion is for $50/day surcharge. Larry Knauer 6/4/12.

Discussed and decided that organizers may request waivers for
additional fees.
Caution that such a charge may cause pilots to expect specific
services and
assistance in return for the fee.

There is absolutely no movement towards implementing such fees in the
rules!

Larry didn't make a lot of money at Parowan and was annoyed by
problems some crewless pilots were causing him, especially clearing
the runway at the end of the day. He put in the suggestion, and like
all suggestions we receive, it made its way on to the agenda.

We tend to be pretty free-market about regionals, so if someone really
wants something like this, he can try it by waiver.

If anyone asks RC advice, however, most of us (I'd say all of us, but
I can't remember exactly) would counsel that a $300 tax for showing up
crewless would be a terrible idea, for all sorts of obvious reasons.
There are better ways to organize launch and runway clearing issues.

The "expect services" summarizes a longer discussion. As a perpetually
crewless pilot, I would be delighted to pay $300...IF, what I get in
return is, someone to bring my stuff back, park my car, retrieve me at
the end of the day, come get me when I land out, and have a cold beer
waiting. $300 is cheap compared to the cost of bringing along a full
time crew.

A pure tax with no service is going to cause a lot of resentment and,
more importantly, pilots will simply vote with their feet and go to
more welcoming contests.

I'm glad to see people are reading the minutes. Hint: Keep going.

John Cochrane